The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-08-18

enough, but lately there's been fault
found, m they don't seem to see that
it's because Rufes all worn out that he
can't preach as he used to. He don't
get half his salary, m he's got large
family-fve children-an' it's hard to
keep his head above water. How can
they expect him to preach good SER
mons when he's all run down in health,
n worried most to death about money
mattersp I help him all / can, but
that amt much. We've got three chill
dren, m I've mother to take care of,
too. Most / can do is to send down
apples an potatoes occasionally. My
heart migives me sometimes that Rufe'n
give way in his mind. If he could only
take rest! But he hasn't the money
to rest ON. l saw him one day last
week, n amt been able to get his
face out O. my mind since; he's so
changed"
She sighed deeply and put her hand
over her eyes moment.
1.-THE only thing to do, I expect, is to
trust to the Lord" she said, presently.
'He knows all about it, N IL do what's
best. Perhaps I ought MT to have
talked so free to stranger; but run
on without thinking
"You have interested me very much"
said Mrs. Escott, whose face had lost
its look of WEAKNESS and disappoint-
ment. Il am very glad you told me
your brothers story"
Taylor says that sometimes the
s'heaviest wheat of all'' may spring up
from seeds dropped in an accidental
way. Mrs. Escott, when once more in
: the train, found the story she had heard
sufficient food for thought during the
. rest of her journey. The. awakening
! from the selfish torpor into which her
grief had plunged her had been accom-
plished at last by the merest accident.
: She was not naturally selfish. 1t was
sorrow alone which had made her so.
When she returned home, the follow.
7 ing day, her servants were surprised al
the change which had taken place in
her. She appeared brighter and more
active than they had ever seen her, ane
$ instead of spending the afternoon
! lying on sofa in darkened room
I she went out to make a call on Rev
|. Mr.. Barry.
She told him very frankly the objec
r of her call. She wanted him to take I
4 long vacation, 60 to Europe at her ex'
r pense for a stay Of six months, o
e longer, if his health required it.
a II have more money than I know
: how to use," she said, when Mr.. Barr.
+ demurred at her proposition; ''and
n want to spend some of it as pleases m
a best. You can preach the Lords wor
far more eloquently, and do His wor
it with hundred-fold more vigor. afte
n a rest and complete change. Take you
e wife with you, of course. She needs
D rest, too. The five children can com
r to me. Twill take care of them unit
te your return. They will, perhaps" an
}; her voice faltered, ''do me good
7, good in many ways. l have bee
S. lonely for SO long"
IN It need scarcely be said that M
,e Barry accepted the help which ha
h come to him in so noble and generol
a shape; and two weeks later he an
We his delicate, gentle wife were on tt
m ocean, and their five noisy, happy chi
m dren, whose ages ranged from fourtee
Is to FIVE years, were romping in Mr.
as Escott's big garden, and filling Il
Mt long-silent rooms of the great stol
ed house with noise and life.
We The seed so accidentally drops
ut bore even more fruit; for the socie
which had organized the Sunday rea
he ing-room received donation from MI
Escott of five hundred dollars, and t
q, promise of more when it was needed.
Mrs. Escott never drifted back aga
an to the aimless, melancholy, selfish Il
1e she had led before that memorable C;
at the little brown farmhouse, and
ur the years that followed she nev
;ut thought without gratitude of the swe'
Ike faced woman who had told her t
ng minister's simple story.-Florence
as HosloweL, in Chicago Standard.